Jets GM Joe Douglas had a mission of adding not just starting offensive linemen to his roster this offseason, but having depth behind them as well. That's why Cameron Clark, a tackle out of UNC Charlotte, was taken in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
And who was one of the first people to hit him up to congratulate him? None other than the Jets' first-round pick, Mekhi Becton.
"I talked to Mekhi the day before the draft, all of us were talking. When I got drafted, he hit me up," Clark told the media on Monday during a Zoom conference call.
Clark and Becton shared a special bond before the draft kicked off this year, as they both worked out with renowned offensive line coach Duane "Duke" Manyweather. Their connection during that pre-draft process was immediate.
"We just kinda hit it off from the jump," Clark said Monday. "It was a group of us like five of us that was real close when we were training and me and Mekhi were one of those guys. So we were always just joking, playing around together. We worked hard. I said we know when to work, we know when to play, but we always got our work in.
"He's just a fun, happy person. The way he is off the field, he's the opposite on the field. He's a big kid off the field."
Now these two are back to working together again, but in very different circumstances.
While Becton remains in Dallas working with Manyweather, Clark is back in Charlotte working on his own. But he still sees Becton -- only over video conference. Becton said right before Clark came on to the call that meetings have been interesting, as he can't develop the relationships he wants with his new teammates just yet.
For Clark, though, seeing Becton in meetings helps now and will help in the future.
"It's just crazy seeing someone and actually knowing someone in the meetings, so I feel like that's going to pay dividends especially once we get up to New York and we can help each other out," he said.
We all know what Becton's fit on the Jets is (left tackle now and of the future). For Clark, he is not just expected to be a depth tackle player. While he played exclusively at tackle in college, he was told by the Jets that he will be tested at all positions.
"I'm working for both guard positions and both tackle spots," Clark said. "I feel like I can play whatever position coach needs me to."
Versatility will go a long way for Clark if he wishes to make the Jets' final roster for Week 1. But he's got time to think about that and work on making that a reality.
In the meantime, he'll continue to work on the playbook with a close friend that has now become a new teammate.